Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Great Experience Studying Abroad In Florence With CAPA! Past Review

By (Felician University) - abroad from 05/21/2017 to 06/20/2017 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
While studying abroad in Florence, I learned that I am perfectly capable of living on my own. I'm a person who loves being at home, so living in another country for a month was a bit intimidating. I also learned to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. This trip was absolutely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The overall educational experience was great! Our photography course was fun, and challenged us to take great pictures in ways we never have before.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CAPA was an absolute delight. Every staff member was incredibly nice and welcoming, especially Valentina Fatichenti. They were both professional and also humorous and caring. The CAPA building is beautiful, and features multiple classrooms with stunning pieces of artwork on the ceilings and walls.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living arrangements were fine for the most part. My only complaint is that upon arrival, I was told that my landlord would meet with me outside. I waited for at least 30-45 minutes before she came from inside of the apartment to meet me. I was the only male student on my trip, so being alone outside of my apartment waiting for someone to show up with no way to contact them made me quite uncomfortable.

* Food:

The food was great! Some of my favorite restaurants were Universo Vegano, Frixium Italia, and Mr. Pizza.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt pretty integrated in Italian culture. We ate at Italian restaurants, viewed historic Italian art, and embraced the city we were in.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

None of us had health issues, but we knew the location of the local hospital and were given contact information.

* Safety:

I didn't have any safety issues, but there were some creepy men who tried to hit on some of my female classmates.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I had a ton of fun studying abroad in Florence through CAPA. I went to so many museums, tried new foods, and experienced living in another country for the first time. The employees at CAPA were splendid and made me much more comfortable on the trip, and I highly, highly recommend them if you're planning to study abroad.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent an estimated $250-300 on food and other expenses every week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't spend money on things you don't need. Buying some souvenirs for yourself and family/friends is fine, just be sure not to go overboard.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I didn't feel pressured to speak the language, but I tried my best to speak a decent amount of Italian.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Italian III
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? The app Duolingo is great for learning new languages!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I loved being able to take pictures of the plethora of landmarks and art in Florence.
  • I loved exploring Florence and visiting the many stores and restaurants it had to offer.
  • I loved being able to explore Florence with my friends while all of us grew closer together and learned from each other.
* What could be improved?
  • I would make sure that if a student is the only one of their gender, that they have someone to introduce them to their landlord.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew about the plethora of mosquitoes that Florence has.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!